Rumors

Update (2/11): Eurogamer has updated its original report, and says that “Bandai Namco’s Japan studio is also working on the project, with the intention it will now take the lead on its development while Singapore moves to focus on another Switch game”. The site does not elaborate further beyond this. However, Eurogamer now seems to believe that Bandai Namco Japan is the lead studio on Metroid Prime 4 as opposed to Bandai Namco Singapore.

Original (2/9): Rumors of Bandai Namco working on Metroid Prime 4 picked up this week following a discovery on a LinkedIn profile page. This person listed an “unannounced IP (first person shooter/adventure exclusive to the Nintendo Switch)”, which would fit the bill for the project.

Eurogamer now says that Bandai Namco Singapore is indeed behind Metroid Prime 4. The site’s sources say that they’re the “lead studio on the game in collaboration with Nintendo.” Bandai Namco Singapore has some talent from the now defunct LucasArts Singapore, who previously worked on the cancelled Star Wars 1313.

Rumors of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy for Switch reemerged this weekend from a somewhat random place. Hidden away inside the Spring 2018 edition of Licensing Source Book Europe was a comment from GB Eye, a European supplier of licensed merchandise. That’s where a five-year plan for Crash Bandicoot was mentioned, which would encompass a Switch port of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and a new game entirely next year.

Eurogamer is now backing up GB Eye’s claim. The site has heard from its own sources that Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is lined up for Switch. That still doesn’t count as confirmation, but adds more fuel to the fire that an announcement could be coming soon.

Speculation about a potential Switch version of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is back in the spotlight – for the moment anyway.

DHX Brands published a new “Licensing Source Book Europe” for Spring 2018, and has some comments from merchandising company GB Eye. Max Arguile, who works there as as a licensing manager, claims that Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will be brought to Switch. This is part of a five-year plan in which another Crash game will supposedly launch in 2022.

Original: Sumo Digital has worked on two Sonic kart racers for SEGA. Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing launched in 2010, followed by Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed a couple of years later. A third entry could now be a possibility.

Slides from a supposed Sumo presentation have apparently leaked online. One page covers project in development at the studio, including an unannounced karting game based on an “established global IP”.

Could David Wise be working on something at Retro Studios? That’s the latest rumor going around.

Last February, EvB – otherwise known as EvilBoris, said that “Retro are definitely working on something Donkey Kong related.” He added that it could be awhile before we saw anything from that. When someone praised Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, he also responded with: “Funny you should say that”.

Switch has been hitting all sorts of milestones as of late. As one example, the platform has become the fastest-selling home system in a number of countries, including Spain. Nintendo appears to have reached notable mark in Spain as well.

Gamereactor reports that, in Spain, more Switch units are out there than the Xbox One. If the site’s information is correct, Nintendo has sold more units in 10 months than Microsoft has in almost 50.

Gamereactor further adds that Switch has sold over 300,000 units in Spain. As for the Xbox One, it was hovering just below that number by the end of 2017.

After a fairly lengthy hiatus, 2D Metroid was back in the spotlight with Samus Returns. Nintendo and MercurySteam partnered together on the 3DS game, which debuted last September. It wasn’t entirely new, but was a remake of the Game Boy title Metroid 2: Return of Samus.

Samus Returns could be just the start of Metroid’s 2D resurgence. Rumor has it that another entry in the franchise is in development.

Comic Book is reporting on two new games Warner Bros. and TT Games have in development.

The first project carries the unconfirmed title “LEGO Incredibles 2” and is naturally based on Pixar’s upcoming film. There could be some truth to this, as a catalogue showcasing LEGO toy sets for 2018 leaked several months ago and mentioned an unannounced game linked to an unspecified Pixar property.